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UNITED STATES AT NT' FFKCEQ FRANK E. BUNDY, OF ELMIRA, NETV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FRANK E. BUNDY LAMP COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ACETYLENE -GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,889, dated January 3, 1899.

Application filed August 27, 1898. Serial No. 689,690. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. BUNDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Ghemun g and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in acetylene-gas generators as described in Letters Patent No. 608,571, issued to me on the 9th day of August, 1898, which are adapted for lamps, lanterns, headlights, and the like, wherein the gas is taken directly from the generating-chamber and delivered -to the burner as rapidly as generated.

The object of myinvention is to improve and simplify the generator described in the Letters Patent aforesaid, and I'accomplish this object by the construction and arrange The water-reservoir is provided with a diaphragm b, which forms the bottom of-the reservoir. WVithin the generating-chamber A is placed the carbidcartridge 0, which cartridge is described more particularly in Letters Patent No. 610,037, issued to me on the 20th day of September, 1898, for improvements in acetylene-gas generators. Briefly, this cartridge comprises a body of broken carbid put up within a shell D and having its. mass broken up into small portions by layers of. an absorbent material projecting out from the central core E of the same material. This cartridge slips down within the generatingchamber A around the stand-pipe F, which iscentrally positioned within said chamber by means of the socket f, which engages the post G, attached to the bottom of the chamber. The stand-pipe is provided with small holes f near the bottom, and the water is delivered through these holes to the absorbent A stuffing-box L at the outer extremity of the cap J provides a water and gas tight connection about the valve-stem. In the lower part of the valve-case I is a small check-valve 1W1,

which opens upwardly, thus allowing the water to enter the valve-case and preventing the backflow of gas into the water-reservoir.

N represents a secondary gas-chamber in communication with the generating-chamber A, into the top of which it enters through the diaphragmb. This secondary gas-chamber has a capacity for storing up a considerable quantity of gas, being proportioned relatively to the size of the generator. At the top it is provided with an offset 0, from which the nipple P passes through the center of the top of the reservoir. A flanged collar Q screws down upon this nipple and makes a tight joint at this point. The burner-tip R fits into the top of this collar Q, and the lamp-globe or lantern-headlight may be attached to the generator in proper position relative thereto. As this forms no part of my present invention, it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate it herein. The foot of the secondary gas-chamber where it enters the generatingchamber is provided with a hollow screw-plug S, from the bottom of which projects a small drip-cup s. The plug proper, S, is filled with a stopper T, of felt or other suitable porous material. The drip-cup sis provided with the restricted gas-inlets U U and the water or drip outlet V. Finally, the water-reservoir is provided with a filler-plug IV, into which is screwed the vent-plugX.

The operation of this generator is as follows: The cartridge having been placed in the generatingbhamber about the stand-pipe, as illustrated, and the water-reservoir having been filled from the filler-plug opening, the valve is opened by giving the valvestem K a small turn to the left. Ordinarily a quarter-turn will provide the necessary amount of feed. The water from the reservoir rises into the valve-chamber through the checkvalve M and passes through the feed-pipe H to the center of the stand-pipe, wherein it descends and passes out through the opening f,whence the water flows to the absorbent core and is disseminated immediately throughout the mass of the carbid. The gas as generated rises through the opening in the top of the cartridge around the stand-pipe, the moisture contained in the gas being first condensed as it comes in contact with the bottom of the diaphragm b, whence the water of condensation drips back into the bottom of the generating-chamber. The gas thus partially deprived of its moisture enters the top of dripcup 5 in plug S through the restricted passages U, in passing through which a further separation of moisture takes place, which runs down the outside of the cup. The gas then rises through the felt stopper T, by which it is deprived of all remaining moisture and thoroughly dried. The moisture intercepted by the stopper T runs back down the dripcup, whence it issues back into the generating-chamber through the drip-vent V. The dried gas then accumulates in the secondary gas-cl1amberN,where it is cooled by the water which surrounds said chamber. As soon as the air contained in the generator has been driven out by the accumulating gas the gas then issuing from the burner-tip may be lighted, and the lamp will continue to burn until the watersupply is cut off. Vhile the generator is in operation, the vent-plug X must be raised, so as to place the top of the reservoir in communication with the atlnosphere. Should there be an overgeneration of gas, there will be a back pressure in the generating-chamher, which will force the water in feed-pipe H back in the valve-case until the check-valve M is closed, where the water will be held until the gas-pressure is lowered by consumption at the burner. The closing of the checkvalve M prevents the entrance of gas into the water-reservoir and its escape thence through the vent-plug X. The operation of the generator is entirely automatic, and the gas is produced steadily, being delivered to the burner in a thoroughly dried and cooled c011- dition.

The plug S and stopper '1 constitute what I term a moisture-separator and form the most essential feature of my present improvements. The stopper may be renewed from time to time as it becomes saturated with the impurities, which it also removes from the gas. This renewal is accomplished quickly by unscrewing the plug S, the bottom of the drip-cup being notched to receive a screwdriver for this purpose. In fact, it will be seen that all parts of my generator are so arranged as to be quickly and readily got at for cleansing purposes.

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a gas-generator, the combination with the generating-chamber and the gas-outlet therefrom, of a stopper of felt or other porous material in the entrance to said outlet, a dripcup below said stopper, and gas and water passages in said drip-cup, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a gas-generator, the combination of a generating-chamber, a water-reservoir above the generating-chamber, a valved passage between the two, a secondary gas-chamber within the Water-reservoir, a hollow screw-plug closing the entrance fromthe generatingchamber to the secondary gas-chamber, a porous stopper in said plug, a drip-cup depending from said plug, a restricted gas-passage leading into the upper part of said cup and a water-outlet at the bottom of said cup.

8. In a gas-generator, the combination with the generatingchamber A and water-reservoir B, of the secondary gas-chamber N within said reservoir, said chamber N having its origin at one side of the center of the generating-chamber and having an offset 0 by which its outlet is brought to the center of the reservoir, the moisture-separator comprising the plug S and the stopper T at the entrance to the secondary gas-chamber, and the central valve-controlled feed-pipe ll, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. BUNDY.

Witnesses:

E. R. CORNELL, C. J. R001. 

